News

Call of Aquaculture Study Falls on Deaf Ears

CANADA - Although he won’t say it’s officially dead, newly-appointed Agriculture and Lands minister Ron Cantelon is looking beyond the study group he sat on to look into aquaculture issues.

According to NanaimoBulletin, Cantelon, Liberal MLA for Nanaimo-Parksville, sat as co-chairman of the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture, which toured the province, meeting with stakeholder groups and experts in a bid to come up with some recommendations on fish farming on the B.C. coast.

But the committee, which had a majority of NDP members on it, submitted a report that was critical of the current aquaculture regime and called for the use of closed containment systems.

Although presented in late fall, no action was taken on the report, reported the news organisation.

Cantelon, whose new duties as a minister include aquaculture, said he is awaiting an upcoming report from the Pacific Salmon Forum before he decides on any new policies for fish farming in British Columbia.

“We will receive the report from the Pacific Salmon Forum in the next few days,” he told NanaimoBulletin. “They are looking at the state of wild salmon from an objective, science-based point of view.”